Editing West Jefferson, Ohio (section)

==History==

=== Overview ===
West Jefferson, founded by Isaac Jones,<ref>{{Cite web |last=etheme.com |title=History of West Jefferson, Ohio |url=https://www.through-time.com/products/history-of-west-jefferson-ohio?srsltid=AfmBOopOVGIhCkqA0Bf7L01z2nIAHEMIcJiGnJO1uMFrM6ztcmX2vJuf |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=America Through Time |language=en}}</ref> was originally called New Hampton (founded by Samuel Jones and Samuel Sexton). The current name was [[plat]]ted {{circa}} 1831.<ref>{{cite book|last=Overman|first=William Daniel|title=Ohio Town Names|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015015361465;view=1up;seq=158|year=1958|publisher=Atlantic Press|location=Akron, OH|page=142}}</ref>  A post office called West Jefferson has been in operation since 1833.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?state=OH | title=Post offices | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=June 21, 2016}}</ref>

=== Early settlement ===
Around 1820-1830, a settlement named 'New Hampton' was established, just about a mile south of the current town site.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CONTENTdm |url=https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p15005coll8/id/2730/rec/2 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=ohiomemory.org}}</ref> In 1830, the first map of the town's plots was drawn up by Isaac Jones,<ref>{{Cite web |title=CONTENTdm |url=https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p15005coll8/id/1894/rec/1 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=ohiomemory.org}}</ref> one of the first settlers aside from Jones and Sexton, and a prominent citizen of West Jefferson. The first town hall was built at an unknown time, most likely between 1830-1835. During 1835, the second town hall was built by Horace Putnam,<ref>{{Cite web |title=CONTENTdm |url=https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p15005coll8/id/2543/rec/76 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=ohiomemory.org}}</ref> another prominent citizen in W. Jeff's history. Unfortunately, there is very little documentation on the second town hall, and even less on the first. Around 1848-1849, the Columbus and Xenia railroad raised $20,000 from the citizens of Madison county to build a railroad.<ref>{{Cite web |title=West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 11 {{!}} Hurt/Battelle Memorial Library |url=https://www.hbmlibrary.org/content/west-jefferson-days-gone-series-11 |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=www.hbmlibrary.org}}</ref> The original railroad station build within West Jefferson appears to no longer exist, however, a slightly newer railroad station (most likely built before 1938) still exists<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMK6f4wSGIE |title=West Jefferson, Ohio 1938 & 1952 |date=2017-02-03 |last=Chris Thacker |access-date=2025-02-08 |via=YouTube}}</ref> as part of the Fisher Cast Steel Mill. Unlike the trains that used to run through the town in the 1930's, the current trains are diesel and transport freight instead of passengers.

The first church with some photograph documentation was built in 1863, being the Methodist Episcopal Church.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CONTENTdm |url=https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p15005coll8/id/2866/rec/71 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=ohiomemory.org}}</ref> As for the oldest church still currently standing, (and possibly the only church with a steeple in the town) is the Ss. Simon and Jude church, constructed in 1869.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CONTENTdm |url=https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p15005coll8/id/2146/rec/1 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=ohiomemory.org}}</ref> It is one of the tallest buildings in the town.

=== 1870 - 1910 ===
In 1872, the first records of a town seal were recorded. The seal had a copy of the original covered bridge spanning Little Darby Creek on the National road <ref>{{Cite web |title=West Jefferson in Days Gone By series 50 - 59 |url=https://www.hbmlibrary.org/book/export/html/2048 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=www.hbmlibrary.org}}</ref>(now known as U.S. Route 40). Also in 1872, West Street was paved with brick. <ref>{{Cite web |title=West Jefferson in Days Gone By series 50 - 59 |url=https://www.hbmlibrary.org/book/export/html/2048 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=www.hbmlibrary.org}}</ref> The first high school was built around the late 1870's or 1880's, on the current site of Garrette park, and the first class graduated in 1884.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CONTENTdm |url=https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p15005coll8/id/13/rec/13 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=ohiomemory.org}}</ref> It was known as the 'Union Schoolhouse' or 'West Jefferson High School', although few sources back up the former name.

During 1893, the town hall was built,<ref>{{Citation |last=Bartoszek |first=Brandon |title=West Jefferson City Hall |date=2014-07-10 |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/eridony/15400088553 |access-date=2025-03-15}}</ref> which replaced the previous town hall built in 1855. The 1893 hall was the 3rd building to stand there. The first building on that plot is unknown. Originally, it was known as the "opera house",<ref>{{Cite web |title=CONTENTdm |url=https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p15005coll8/id/1891/rec/144 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=ohiomemory.org}}</ref> due to it housing a movie theatre until sometime in the 1930's or 40's. In 1958, the top few stories (most likely 3 or 4) were removed due to structural instability.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CONTENTdm |url=https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p15005coll8/id/1891/rec/144 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=ohiomemory.org}}</ref> Oddly, on a cornerstone of the building, the message inscribed calls the town hall the city hall. It is unknown why that was inscribed.

===2021 shooting===
On May 24, 2021, a [[mass shooting]] occurred at an apartment complex in West Jefferson. Three men and one woman were killed, with three of the victims being found inside the building and one outside. A motive has not been determined for the shooting. On June 14, a 35-year-old suspect was arrested and charged with the killings. The shooting marked West Jefferson's first homicides since April 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/four-dead-shooting-ohio-apartment-n1268450|title=Four dead in shooting at Ohio apartment|publisher=NBC News|last=Wong|first=Wilson|date=May 25, 2021|accessdate=May 25, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/dead-shooting-ohio-suburb-apartment/story?id=77891695|title=4 dead in shooting at Ohio suburb apartment|publisher=ABC News|last=Lenthang|first=Marlene|date=May 25, 2021|accessdate=May 25, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/05/25/west-jefferson-shock-after-shooting-leaves-least-3-dead/7430200002/|title=West Jefferson in shock after mass shooting leaves three males, one female dead|publisher=The Columbus Dispatch|last=Cooley|first=Patrick|date=May 25, 2021|accessdate=May 25, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/crime/2021/06/14/man-charged-west-jefferson-mass-shooting/7687679002/|title=Man charged with four counts of murder in West Jefferson mass shooting|last=Bruner|first=Bethany|work=The Columbus Dispatch|date=June 14, 2021|accessdate=June 21, 2021}}</ref> In February 2024, the shooter, John Steckel, was convicted of four counts of aggravated murder for the shooting and was sentenced to life without parole.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://myfox28columbus.com/news/local/man-sentenced-for-2021-quadruple-homicide-john-steckel-west-jefferson-aggravated-murder-life-sentence-court-legal-fatal-shooting|title=Man sentenced for 2021 quadruple homicide|work=WSYX|agency=WSYX (Fox 28)|date=February 3, 2024|accessdate=March 1, 2024}}</ref>